Mixin’ Up Mocktails With Effie
Written and Photographed by guest blogger, Effie Gurmeza of EffieGurmeza.com
As much as I love a good cocktail, there are always times in life when alcohol just isn’t an option. I recently found out I was pregnant and although I’ve had to give up creating craft cocktails for the time being, I realized I didn’t have to give up mixology all together! Enter the mocktail and the best mixer around, DRY Sparkling soda! Here are five of my favorite mocktail recipes for you to try, all with various flavors of DRY Sparkling.
Sparkling Cucumber Basil Lemonade
This lemonade is extra fancy and twice as refreshing as the regular stuff!
Ingredients: Cucumber DRY Sparkling soda 3-inch length of cucumber, chilled and coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup) 3 fresh basil leaves 2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice 2 oz still water 2 oz simple syrup
Directions: Blend together until smooth, cucumber, basil, lemon juice, water, and simple syrup. Fill two mason jars with ice and divide the mixture between the two. Top with Cucumber DRY Sparkling and garnish as desired.
Orange Elderflower Spritzer
This drink reminds me of a Mimosa, but with the delicious twist of elderflower. Perfect for a fancy brunch at home!
Ingredients: Blood Orange DRY Sparkling soda 2 oz fresh squeezed orange juice 1 ¼ oz elderflower syrup Sprig of thyme for garnish if desired
Directions: Stir together orange juice and elderflower syrup. Pour evenly into two coupe glasses and top off with Blood Orange DRY Sparkling. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and an orange slice.
Apple Thyme Fizz
A sweet reminder of fall, but delicious anytime of year!
Ingredients: Fuji Apple DRY Sparkling soda 3 oz good quality apple cider ½ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice ½ oz thyme simple syrup Cinnamon sugar for rim Sprig of thyme and apple slice for garnish if desired
Directions: In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine apple cider, lemon juice, and thyme simple syrup and shake until cold. Pour evenly into two coupe glasses (rimmed with cinnamon sugar) and top with Fuji Apple DRY Sparkling. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and an apple slice if desired.
Thyme Simple Syrup: Combine in sauce pan and bring to boil, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, 2 sprigs of fresh thyme. Let simmer for a bit to infuse, then strain out thyme.
Creamy Vanilla Cold Brew
Spruce up your afternoon pick-me-up with this iced coffee drink! Similar to a White Russian, sans alcohol
Ingredients: 3 oz Vanilla DRY Sparkling soda 4 oz cold brew coffee (diluted, not concentrated) 1 oz cream ½ oz simple syrup, chocolate sauce, or any other sweetener/syrup
Directions: Stir ingredients together and pour over ice in a tumbler glass.
Virgin Watermelon Mojito
A “fojito” if you will, that has Summer written all over it!
Ingredients: Watermelon DRY Sparkling soda 1 lime, juiced 1 ½ c watermelon, cubed 4 sprigs of mint ½ oz simple syrup
Directions: Blend together until smooth, lime juice and watermelon. Muddle a sprig of mint in a 1/4 oz simple syrup in two separate highball glasses. Add ice. Evenly pour in watermelon mixture, top with Watermelon DRY Sparkling soda and stir. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. I say, “cheers” to going booze-free for any reason. You never know – you just might not miss the alcohol.
-Effie
As much as I love a good cocktail, there are always times in life when alcohol just isn’t an option. I recently found out I was pregnant and although I’ve had to give up creating craft cocktails for the time being, I realized I didn’t have to give up mixology all together! Enter the mocktail and the best mixer around, DRY Sparkling soda! Here are five of my favorite mocktail recipes for you to try, all with various flavors of DRY Sparkling.
Sparkling Cucumber Basil LemonadeThis lemonade is extra fancy and twice as refreshing as the regular stuff!
Ingredients: Cucumber DRY Sparkling soda 3-inch length of cucumber, chilled and coarsely chopped (about 1/2 cup) 3 fresh basil leaves 2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice 2 oz still water 2 oz simple syrup
Directions: Blend together until smooth, cucumber, basil, lemon juice, water, and simple syrup. Fill two mason jars with ice and divide the mixture between the two. Top with Cucumber DRY Sparkling and garnish as desired.
Orange Elderflower SpritzerThis drink reminds me of a Mimosa, but with the delicious twist of elderflower. Perfect for a fancy brunch at home!
Ingredients: Blood Orange DRY Sparkling soda 2 oz fresh squeezed orange juice 1 ¼ oz elderflower syrup Sprig of thyme for garnish if desired
Directions: Stir together orange juice and elderflower syrup. Pour evenly into two coupe glasses and top off with Blood Orange DRY Sparkling. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and an orange slice.
Apple Thyme FizzA sweet reminder of fall, but delicious anytime of year!
Ingredients: Fuji Apple DRY Sparkling soda 3 oz good quality apple cider ½ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice ½ oz thyme simple syrup Cinnamon sugar for rim Sprig of thyme and apple slice for garnish if desired
Directions: In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine apple cider, lemon juice, and thyme simple syrup and shake until cold. Pour evenly into two coupe glasses (rimmed with cinnamon sugar) and top with Fuji Apple DRY Sparkling. Garnish with a sprig of thyme and an apple slice if desired.
Thyme Simple Syrup: Combine in sauce pan and bring to boil, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, 2 sprigs of fresh thyme. Let simmer for a bit to infuse, then strain out thyme.
Creamy Vanilla Cold BrewSpruce up your afternoon pick-me-up with this iced coffee drink! Similar to a White Russian, sans alcohol
Ingredients: 3 oz Vanilla DRY Sparkling soda 4 oz cold brew coffee (diluted, not concentrated) 1 oz cream ½ oz simple syrup, chocolate sauce, or any other sweetener/syrup
Directions: Stir ingredients together and pour over ice in a tumbler glass.
Virgin Watermelon MojitoA “fojito” if you will, that has Summer written all over it!
Ingredients: Watermelon DRY Sparkling soda 1 lime, juiced 1 ½ c watermelon, cubed 4 sprigs of mint ½ oz simple syrup
Directions: Blend together until smooth, lime juice and watermelon. Muddle a sprig of mint in a 1/4 oz simple syrup in two separate highball glasses. Add ice. Evenly pour in watermelon mixture, top with Watermelon DRY Sparkling soda and stir. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. I say, “cheers” to going booze-free for any reason. You never know – you just might not miss the alcohol.
-Effie